What do you guys think of this lineup tonight against the Nuggets? PG - Farmar SG - Fisher SF - Kobe PF - Odom C - Turiaf Second Unit PG - JCritt SG - Sasha SF - Luke PF - Odom C - Kwame After the last few games it's clear the roster needs some changes and the starting unit needs in particular needs a boost. The Nuggets have a small backcourt with Carter/Iverson so the Lakers don't have to worry about Fisher or Farmar being posted up. This gives our team another outside shooter to spread the floor, another ball handler, and capable scorer. The second unit should do fine with JCritt playing PG and also having Walton out there to facilitate the offense. If Walton starts he's going to be matched up against Carmelo Anthony and that's always been a lopsided matchup favoring Melo. Having Kobe at SF forces the Nuggets to put Melo on one of our scoring threats and also allows Kobe to try and lock him down tonight.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Records: Lakers 26-12 (5th seed); Nuggets 24-15 (4th seed) Offensive ratings: Lakers 111.8 (6th); Nuggets 109.4 (14th) Defensive ratings: Lakers 105.4 (7th); Nuggets 105.3 (6th) Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown Nuggets: Allan Iverson, Anthony Carter, Linas Kleiza, Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby Yes, the records and seedings are right: If the playoffs started today, the Lakers and Nuggets would meet in the first round. The Nuggets would have the higher seed — as the leaders of their division they can be no lower than fourth — however the Lakers, with their better record, would have home court advantage. Lakers Notes: As some backup at center, the Lakers signed 7-0 big body DJ Mbenga to a 10-day contract today. This is a solid 10-day pickup, a guy who can provide some defense and depth — he averaged 2.5 blocks per 40 minutes his last year in Dallas and is a decent help defender. He is not a great rebounder for his height but he will get some boards. He will give us no offense. But rather than taking a big risk, the Lakers are playing it smart and seeing if DJ can provide a patch for a week or two until Mihm gets back. Now, on to the injury report. I’m not a doctor, but I play one on this blog. Trevor Ariza broke his fourth metatarsal bone in his foot. The metatarsals are the five long bones in the forefoot which connect the ankle bones to those of the toes. The fourth one is the for the toe next to the little toe. Healing depends on the severity of the break, but recovery lasts four to eight weeks. So, expect Bynum and Ariza to be back about the same time. Chris Mihm is also a couple weeks away. Bynum is out. It would be nice if Radmanovic can play as he torched the Nuggets last meeting. And I just got carpal tunnel typing up the Lakers injuries. The Nuggets Coming In: Denver’s isolation basketball that relies on Iverson and Melo continues to work pretty well — they are 6-4 in their last 10. Melo has four double-doubles this month (the stat, not the In-N-Out burger) and Iverson consistently leads the team in scoring. Linas Kleiza has had some hot games of late (he had 41 a couple games ago) being the open spot up guy with two other slashers who draw the attention. Read more about him from David Thorpe in an interview at True Hoop. It is really Marcus Camby that makes the Nuggets work, however. Without his great backstopping defense in the paint the Nuggets would try to get in a shootout every night, but Camby can take away the paint (Bynum had just two points against him last meeting) and that forces other teams into more jump shots than they would like. The result is one of the better records in the West. Last Time These Two Met: Back on Dec. 5 Alan Iverson put up 51, Melo had 26 and the Lakers still won, thanks to 15-5 run to end the game. While the Nuggets are a good defensive team the Lakers shot 53.6% (eFG%) for the game. Vladamir Radmanovic was a key part of that, hitting 6 of 9 three pointers on his way to 21 points on a sharp-shooting night for him. In the first meeting of the year, the Lakers sported the Nuggets a 17-point lead by turning the ball over every chance they got. But when they took care of the ball they took care of the game and won. Keys To The Game: If you were going to be without your high-scoring center for a game, this is not a bad one — he wasn’t going to score a ton against Marcus Camby, one of the best defensive centers in the game. (Last meeting Bynum had just two points against Camby.) In part tonight depends on what Nuggets team shows up — when focused on defense and moving the ball on offense they are one of the best teams in the NBA. But that team only shows up sporadically, sometimes for just a quarter or less. No way of predicting this squad. One thing the Nuggets are starting to get is play from their bench. In the first two Lakers win against the Nuggets the bench was key — it was Farmar and Bynum off the pine that started to turn the first meeting around, last game it was some key players off the bench that ensured the Lakers win (although the starters did a lot of damage). The depleted Lakers bench needs to find a way to step up tonight because J.R. Smith and others have started to step up more for the Nuggets lately. This needs to be a big night for Kwame and Turiaf — the Nuggets are a team that likes to drive the lane, and in the process get a lot of fouls. Iverson and Melo can get by anyone outside (best to make them shoot from there if possible) but the Lakers need to block and alter some shots without fouling. Where you can watch: Game time is 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). We get a choice here in LA between the Fox Sports broadcast and the national TNT version. But, if you live in Boise, you’re stuck with Chuck (and a lot of “fav five” commercials).</div> Source: ForumBlueandGold
We have a tough game ahead. I'm not sure if we should go small, but hey, I'm down with whatever works at this point. The Nuggets have two of the best scorers in the league in Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson (who killed us last game). We're without our best post presence in Andrew Bynum, and one of our best defenders in Trevor Ariza. All I know is if we put Luke on Carmelo, it will be a failed assignment. Marcus Camby has been a monster recently, so I'm not very confident in this game. We'll see what happens, but Kobe will probably need to go off if we want a chance
I'm also worried about tonight's game. The Nuggets have a lot of scorers and athletic players. I'm particularly concerned with Kleiza. He's been on a tear recently and without Ariza or Radman we don't really have anyone on the bench to matchup with him.
I think going small actually might help the lakers, because Martin and Nene are still injured. So the PF will most likely be split up between Carmelo, Najera, and Kleiza. Denver's only real inside presence is Camby, so hopefully he can continue his excellent play and stay out of foul trouble.
Kobe on AI Odom on Melo Luke on Kleiza should do it... does anyone know if DJ Mbenga will be playing tonight?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kobe23 @ Jan 21 2008, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe on AI Odom on Melo Luke on Kleiza should do it... does anyone know if DJ Mbenga will be playing tonight?</div> MBenga is available if needed.
Going small is actually a good idea. Camby has a tendency to become a jumpshooter, so putting Turiaf on him wouldn't be a problem. If he starts playing big, then bring out Kwame. What is Nene's injury? the testicular cancer surgery? Kmart have a sore knee?
I just don't like Turiaf starting, even if Kwame plays mediocre again.Camby will have an easy day with Kwame and Turiaf guarding him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bynumite @ Jan 21 2008, 09:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I just don't like Turiaf starting, even if Kwame plays mediocre again.Camby will have an easy day with Kwame and Turiaf guarding him.</div> Turiaf has a nice jump shot to force Camby out of the paint. If Kwame is getting touches against Camby, I think Marcus could have a career night in blocked shots.
Im not sure whats going to happen tonight, but I do have a feeling Kobe goes for atleast 40... I'm thinkin maybe even 50 tonight..... The Ariza injury is just another excuse for Kobe to try and take this game on himself. Anyone feeling the same way?
Kobe is truly the MVP of this league. This game is just more proof that our offense sucks testicles with Luke Walton in there. As soon as he was taken out and Turiaf and Farmar were put in, our offense just rolled. While he was in, Denver made their run's, our offense stalled. God Ariza, why did you have to get hurt.
